Improvement in pedal attachments for pianos



N. A. SIMSGN.

mpmvement in Peda' Achmens for Pianos.

N0123,429. fly] Patgted l iinwm:

@gunman UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL A. STIMSON, OF HERKIMER, NEW YORK.

BMPROVEMENT IN PEDAL ATTACHMENTS FOR PIANOS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,429, dated February 6, 1872.

Specification describing a new and useful Improvement in Pedal Attachment for Pianos, invented by NliiI-IANIEL A. S'LIMSON, of Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer' and State of New York.

Figure l isa top view of my improved piano attachment. Fig. 2 is a front view ot' the upper part ot' the same. Fig. b is a detail crosssection ot' the same.

My invention has tor its object to furnish an improved attachment for pianos to enable a performer upon a violin, tiute, or other instrument to play with his feet a piano accompaniment for himself, and it consists in the construction and combination of the various parts oi' the attachment, as hereinafter more fully described.

A is the frame-work of the attachment, which is designed to be secured to the front of the piano by thumb-screws, and which should be made ot such a size that when its base rests upon the licor the levers pivoted to its top bar may be above and rest upon the keys of the piano. B are the pedals or foot-levers, which are pivoted to the front bottom bar al of the trame A, and the rear ends ot' which rest upon the rear bottom bar a2 ot' said frame A. The pedals B are arranged in two groups ot' three, tive, or more, and in such a way that the pedals of each group can be conveniently operated by the toot ot the operator. The rear ends ot' the pedals B are made to move up and down in vertical lines by guide-pins attached to the bar a2, upon which said rear ends rest.

To the upper edge of the bars D are attached two, three, or more upwardly-projecting pins, E, according to the number ot' keys to be struck at the same time. The pins E pass up through guide-holes in the board or plate a3 secured to the upper part of the frame A, so that the pins E, when raised, may strike against the under side of the forward ends of the levers F, the forward ends ot' which move up and down between guidepins attached to or in grooves formed in the front top bar af* orl the frame A. The levers F are pivoted to the rear top bar a5 of the frame A, and their rear ends project so as to be above or rest upon the keys oi' the piano. To the under side ofthe rear ends ofthe levers F are attached pads or cushions f', which come in contact with the keys of the piano. rlhe levers F after being depressed to operate the keys ofthe piano will be again raised to their former position by the spring oi' the said keys.

The drawing shows an attachment capable of playing an accompaniment in the keys of A, D, and G, each set of levers striking the keys necessary to produce a chord.

By increasing the number of pedals, rods, and levers, the attachment can be adapted to play an accompaniment in any key.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the pedals or foot-levers B, rods C, cross-bars D, pins E, and levers F with each other, and with the trame A, to adapt them for attachment to a piano, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

NATHANIEL A. STIMSON.

Witnesses:

E. WAsHBUEN, A. B. STEELE. 

